children

A storytime starting Tuesday June 30, 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. for Ages 3 - 6.
Listen to stories and sing songs. Learn rhymes, fingerplays, and sign language. Tell stories with puppets and the flannel board. Each story time ends with coloring and bubbles.
Registration is required. Children must be at least 3 by the first session. This program runs for 6 weeks ending August 11. Limit of 15 children.
Visit www.woodwardmemoriallibrary.org or call 585-768-8300.

A special storytime starting Monday, June 29 at 10:30 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. for children who are 2 or 3 year olds and a caring adult. Listen to stories that feature themes like shapes and colors, sing songs, dance, color, and play with bubbles. Child must be at least 2 by the first session and must be accompanied by an adult. This is a 6 week session and runs through Monday, August 10. Registration is required. Limit of 10 children.
Visit www.woodwardmemoriallibrary.org or call 585-768-8300.

Monday, June 29 at 6:00 p.m.
Come sign up for the Summer Reading Program and visit the Mini Ark Farms Petting Zoo! Play on the inflatable obstacle course! Get a balloon from the balloon twister! Enjoy a free ice cream sundae!
Visit www.woodwardmemoriallibrary.org for more info!

A "bulldawg" fighting for her life is a powerful opponent; a "bulldawg" with a team behind her is even more powerful.

Emma Harris, age 4, was diagnosed with leukemia on Jan. 17. Local cheerleaders have teamed up with the community to help Emma and her family with a cheer-a-thon dubbed "Team Emma -- We Got This."

During the afternoon cheer-a-thon this Saturday (3 to 6 p.m.), 47 girls ages 4 through 12 will learn stunts, jumps and a dance routine, which they will then perform for the public in the Batavia High School gym at 260 State St. in Batavia.

BHS cheerleaders and dancers from local studios will also perform in addition to the cheer-a-thon participants.

School doors will open at 6 p.m. The gymnasium will open at 6:30 and the performances begin at 7.

It is free and the public is invited. But of course there will be a donation table for anyone who would like to contribute to help the family with medical and travel expenses.

A Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle will be held, featuring a variety of items ranging from Sabres' tickets to food, toys, gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses, purses, framed pictures, cleaning products, etc.

A student in Jackson Primary School's pre-school program, Emma is an avid cheerleading fan and honorary mascot of the Batavia Bulldawgs, a youth football and cheerleading program. Cheer director Sherri Wahr said that while Emma was not old enough to be a cheerleader, she "put so much effort" into showing up at practices and cheering them on that they "put her in a uniform and let her be our mascot."

"She was there longer days than most of the girls that cheered," said Wahr's daughter, Alexis (15), a JV cheerleader and an assistant to her mother with the Bulldawgs.

"She knew all the cheers just as well as the older girls," Wahr said. "And if they did something wrong, she told them."

She also became very close with Wahr's two daughters, Alexis and Lydia (12), even going so far as to name two of her stuffed animals after them.

When they found out about Emma's condition, Wahr and her daughters were understandably affected.

"I got a phone call from Emma's aunt," Wahr said, "and she told me about the diagnosis. My thought initially was, 'What can I do for them?' Then I picked Alexis and Lydia up from their cheerleading practice and told them the bad news. The first thing they said to me was, 'Mom, what are we going to do?' So brainstorming in the car, all three of us came up with the idea of doing a cheer-a-thon."

On the way to visit Emma at the hospital, they bounced different ideas off each other for a team name, a theme, etc. But it wasn't until they arrived at the hospital that the right idea hit them.

"We brought Emma a megaphone for everyone to sign when they came to visit her," Wahr said. "We wrote 'Team Emma' on it. And then we thought, 'That's awesome.' "

Then Emma's mother came in and showed them a headband someone had sent to the family. Written into the headband were the words, "We got this."

Cheer-a-thon participants were able to raise money for Emma by either submitting a $25 participation fee or obtaining sponsors.

Some, according to Wahr, have done both.

"I know there's been a request for another sponsor sheet," she said, "so somebody's out there getting a lot of sponsors."

Prizes will be awarded to the top three cheerleaders who bring in the most donations.

Whether in the form of sponsoring the cheerleaders, donating items for the raffle and auction, or donating equipment for Saturday's event, Batavia businesses have really come through for Emma.

"It's absolutely amazing the outpouring of support that we've had," Wahr said. "I would say almost half of the businesses in town have donated to Emma in some way, shape or form."

Starting today is National School Bus Safety Week from October 21-25, 2013 and this year’s motto is "At My Stop - You Stop!" Motorist should be aware to always stop for a stopped school bus it is the law. Everyone has to stop when a school bus displays their red lights even when they are on the other side of the road and even on divided highway. Everyone must stop no matter where they are on the road.

At First Student, the bus company that transports our students here at the Batavia School District, comments that one of the most common driver complaint is that motorists violate the school bus stop law every day. Motorists are required to use caution and slow down when flashing yellow lights are activated and stop for a stopped school bus that is displaying the flashing red lights.

Sometimes drivers are not fully paying close attention to their driving, they are too busy texting, talking on the phone or just are not paying attention and pass a stopped school bus. This serious poor safety action could lead up to a $250 fine, traffic tickets and up to suspension of license for passing a stopped school bus with their reds on. All motorists need to better understand the seriousness of this traffic law and pass the word to each other to make the roads safer for all our students.

“Our main concern is safety” said Location Manager Tonya Thompson of First Student . “We educate both our drivers and our students to ensure that each stop is a safe stop for everyone, so please help us make the road safe for our students too by doing your part and stop for a stopped school bus”.

You grew up with it. Your kids love it. Now see it spectacularly and imaginatively brought to life onstage as The Forum Players Theatre Company of Genesee Community College, with the support of the BEST Center, presents "Charlotte's Web", adapted from the book by E.B.White. Autograph session after each performance. Performances Friday, June 14 @ 7:00 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, June 15-16th @ 2:00 p.m. Stuart Steiner Theatre, Genesee Center for the Arts, Genesee Community College, One College Road, Batavia, NY Tickets: $5 For ticket information, purchasing and reservations contact t

The annual "Safe Summer Children's Carnival" will be held Thursday, Aug. 2, from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Falleti Ice Arena, at 22 Evans St. in Batavia, will be the venue. Genesee County AmeriCorps is running this event in partnership with the Genesee County and Batavia Youth Bureaus.

Nickel City Reptiles will be there for the first hour, followed by games from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Kids can play 10 games with a $1 ticket. They will have the chance to win "funny money," which can be used to redeem for prizes. Additionally, they can win an iPod Nano by visiting community agency booths.

The newly opened "Learn Through Play Speech & Language Center" is set to hold an open house for kids and families on Saturday, July 14 from noon until 2 pm.

Owner Valerie Edwards, of Alexander, opened the center to serve children who struggle with language and speech difficulties but do not qualify for existing services. She is a licensed speech pathologist who has experience working with preschoolers and children with various disabilities.

"Learn Through Play Speech & Language Center" is at 56 Ellicott St. in Batavia. For more information, call 815-0327.

P.A.R.P. stands for Parents As Reading Partners. Today the staff at Jackson School rolled out the red carpet for the month of March for students to read. The program presents an exciting cliffhanger that the students find the conclusion to through reading.

Some of the characters from favorite childrens books were played out during this event like the Cat in the Hat, Miss Frizzle, Ramona, Harry Potter, Dr. Doolittle, Pippi Longstocking and Judy Moody were greeted by Brooke Mark and Ed Itor.

P.A.R.P. is a National program designed to encourage chidren to read at home with thier parent, guardian, grandparents, or siblings for at least 15 minutes each day.

Learning to read is the single most important activity in a child's education. P.A.R.P. asks parents / guardians to encourage thier child to read, impressing upon them the fact that reading can be fun as well as informative.

Genesee Community College;s Forum Players Children’s Theatre performance of The Princess and the Goblin by Stuart Paterson, open to the public on Friday, April 20 at 7:30pm (Daytime school performances April 18-20 for local schools by invitation only)

A magical tale of young Princess Irene finding the strength to take on the world; packed with fun and adventure! A rich and magical play for the entire family!

Interstellar, starring Matthew Mcconaughey has been called "a must-see masterpiece," "beautiful, epic," and "one of the most exhilarating film experiences so far this century," Interstellar is definitely a conversation-starter!

Watch this film at home (available for loan at the WML) and then join us in a staff-led discussion.

Thursday, Oct. 27, 3:15-4:15 p.m. Bookworms is designed for readers in grades 4-6. Ghost Stories! Read a ghost story or something spooky and discuss it with the group. Enjoy snacks. New members are ALWAYS welcome! Register by calling 585-768-8300 or online at www.woodwardmemoriallibrary.org